Tshikalange et al., Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. (2016) 13(6):83-89 10.21010/ajtcam. v13i6.13 AN ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN VILLAGES UNDER JONGILANGA TRIBAL COUNCIL, MPUMALANGA, SOUTH AFRICA 1 1 2 Thilivhali Emmanuel Tshikalange *, Boikanyo Calvin Mophuting , James Mahore , Stefan Winterboer 3, Namrita Lall 1 1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. 2Jongilanga Traditional Council, P. Bag x7401, Ximhungwe 1281, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, South Africa. 3Guides and Trackers, P.O. Box 3053, the Reeds 0158, South Africa. * Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected] (T.E. Tshikalange) Abstract Background: Medicinal plants remain an integral part of the lives of people in rural areas. The aim of this study was to document information about the medicinal plants used by Shangaan people in villages under Jongilanga tribal council, Bushbuckridge municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Materials and Methods: An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire with 15 traditional healers as informants; one of them also served as a field guide during data collection. Results were analysed by using various quantitative indices of information consensus factor (ICF), use report (UR), frequency citation (FC) and relative frequency citation (RFC). Results and Methods: The study reported 86 medicinal plants used in villages for the treatment of various ailments, the majority (25 species) of which were used for urino-genital disorders. The Fabaceae family was the most represented family (17 species) of all the medicinal plants recorded in this study. The roots were the most frequently used plant part, accounting for 56% of the plants reported, and decoctions were often used in the preparation of herbal remedies. Respiratory diseases had the highest ICF value recorded among the 8 categories of ailments. The highest use report was reported for Combretum collinum (4), while the FC and RFC values (15) were highest in 12 plant species. The study revealed that medicinal plants are still widely used in rural areas and this documentation can serve as an ethno pharmacological basis for selecting plants with potential pharmaceutical properties. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Traditional healers, Jongilanga Introduction With over hundreds of years in existence, traditional medicine is still widely used, Africa. Many countries have made great efforts to recognize traditional medicine as a health system which plays an important role especially in poor households (Abdullahi, 2011). Traditional medicine is sometimes the only easily accessible and affordable treatment available in many rural areas in developing countries. There is a long history of medicinal plant use on the African continent and in some countries up to 90% of the population rely on medicinal plants as a source of therapeutics (Glenn and Bussmann, 2010; Simbo, 2010; Mesfin et al., 2009). Traditional medicine knowledge is diminishing in many rural communities. Therefore, its documentation is of paramount importance and urgent so that it can be preserved and conserved (Maroyi, 2012). Traditional knowledge is passed from generation to generation without the aid of any documentation or keeping written records. This knowledge will be lost with succeeding generations if it is not rapidly researched and recorded (Simbo., 2010). Ethnobotanical surveys are effective methods in documenting and identifying medicinal plants used in traditional knowledge system (Mahwasane et al., 2013). The purpose of this study was to document information about medicinal plants’ used in villages under Jongilanga tribal council, Mpumalanga province, South Africa. According to the authors’ knowledge, this study will present the first proper documentation of medicinal plants in this area. Material and Methods Study area Mpumalanga is one of the nine South African provinces within the Maputaland-Pondoland region, harbouring the southern half of the Kruger National Park and other centres of endemism. Mpumalanga is divided into three districts, namely the Gert Sibande district, Nkangala district and Ehlanzeni district. The Ehlanzeni district municipality is located in the north-eastern part of Mpumalanga Province bordered by Mozambique and Swaziland. The Ehlanzeni district municipality covers an area of 27 895.47 km2. Thus, the district is divided into the local municipalities Mbombela, Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge, Umjindi, and Thaba Chweu (Figure 1). The Bushbuckridge local municipality covers an area of 2 589.59 km2 with Dwarsloop, Thulamahashe, Maviljan, Shatate, Mkhuhlu and Marite being the main townships. The rest of the geographical area in Bushbuckridge is made up of villages (Mpumalanga provincial government, 2011). The dominant languages in Mpumalanga include Siswati (30%), a language from the neighbouring country, Swaziland; while 26% of the inhabitants speak isiZulu, 10.3% isiNdebele, 210.2% Northern Sotho and 11.6% Xitsonga. The Jongilanga tribal council (GPS coordinates: S 24° 53' 35.52") falls under Bushbuckridge local municipality and controls about 14 villages (Agincourt, Belfast, Croquet Lawn, Cork, Cunningmoor, Dumphries, Huntingdon, Justicia, Kildare, Lillydale, Ronaldsey, Oakley and Somerset) where this study was conducted. Most people in these villages speak Xitsonga, but they can also speak other provincial languages (www.bushbuckridge.gov.za). 83 Tshikalange et al., Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. (2016) 13(6):83-89 10.21010/ajtcam. v13i6.13 Figure 1: Map of Mpumalanga showing location of the study area (circled). Ethnobotanical data collection This study focused on indigenous medicinal plants used by traditional healers in villages that fall under the Jongilanga tribal council. All legal aspects of the study were adhered to before data collection. The investigation was carried out using questionnaires designed to facilitate semi-structured face-to-face interviews with traditional healers. The objectives of the study were explained before seeking their consent to engage in these interviews. This interaction was directed at recording information on medicinal plants used locally, local names of plants, plant parts used to treat various ailments, medicinal uses and preparation methods. Fifteen traditional healers were interviewed during six field visits between April 2011 and April 2013. Mr. Mahore, a traditional healer from one of the villages within the Jongilanga traditional council, was also used as a guide during field trips to collect plant material. Voucher specimens of collected medicinal plants were prepared in the field and identified at the H.G.W.J. Schwelcherdt herbarium (PRU), University of Pretoria. Some of the plant species were taken to the South African National Biodiversity Institute 84 Tshikalange et al., Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. (2016) 13(6): 83-89 10.21010/ajtcam. v13i6.1 Table 1: Medicinal plant uses Scientific and Local name Voucher Plant part Preparatio Medicinal uses U F RF family name number n R C C Abrus precatorius Matihloya Mophutin Whole plant Decoction Kidney problems 2 6 0.40 L. baloyi g 119334 Blood in urine Fabaceae Abutilon Mophutin Roots Decoction Cramps 2 7 0.50 fruiticosum g 119365 Muscle pulls Malvaceae Acacia nigrescens Nkaya Mophutin Stem Infusion Diarrhoea 1 11 0.70 Fabaceae g 117176 Acacia nilotica Mugamazu Mophutin Roots Decoction Mental illnesses 3 10 0.70 Fabaceae g 117174 Headaches Wounds Acacia karoo Rizaza Mophutin Roots Decoction Sexually 3 8 0.50 Fabaceae g 119360 transmitted infections Albizia harveyi Ndzololwane Mophutin Roots Decoction Rituals 1 7 0.47 Fabaceae g 117161 Cleansing ceremony Alectra Ndluwa Mophutin Roots Decoction Kidney problems 1 6 0.40 sessiliflora g 119340 Whole plant Scrophulariaceae Agathisanthemum Mavunge Mophutin Roots Decoction Swollen testicles 1 4 0.27 bojeri g 119330 Rubiaceae Aloe marlothii Mhangana Mophutin Stem Burn Eyes 2 15 1.00 Liliaceae g 117180 High blood pressure Antidesma Ntsongwe Mophutin Roots Decoction Fertility in women 2 10 0.67 venosum g 117167 Euphorbiaceae Asparagus sp. Nkwangula- Mophutin Whole plant Decoction Sores 2 8 0.53 Asparagaceae tilo g 119329 Itching skin Asparagus Nkwangulatil Mophutin Roots Decoction Back pains 2 9 0.60 exuvialis o g 119347 Fatigue Asparagaceae lowuntsongo Boophone Rihemana BC54 Bulb Decoction Truth serum 2 10 0.67 disticha Bad luck Amaryllidaceae Carissa edulis Xivambula/nu Mophutin Roots Infusion Vomiting blood 2 12 0.80 Apocynaceae m-num g 119351 Ear problems Catunaregam sp. Xirhombe Mophutin Fruit Infusion Induces vomiting 2 13 0.87 A g 119345 Laxative Poaceae Catunaregam spp. Xirhuki Mophutin Fruits Fruit Induces vomiting 1 7 0.47 Rubiaceae g 117170 Traditional healer training Chamaecrista Mahlakule Mophutin Roots Decoction Witchcraft 2 15 1.00 capensis g 119343 Fabaceae Crotalaria Mahlampyana Mophutin Roots Infusion Laxative 1 5 0.33 agatiflora g 119344 Fabaceae Cordia ovalis Mpungwana Mophutin Bark of the infusion Good luck 1 14 0.93 Boraginaceae Xinyanyam g 117159 stem Combretum Mondzo Mophutin Roots or Infusion Menstruation 1 10 0.67 imberbe g 117175 stem Combretaceae Combretum Fufu Mophutin Roots Infusion Painful legs 4 10 0.67 collinum g 117156 Cramps Combretaceae Joint pains Combretum Xihlalavhana Mophutin Whole plant Decoction Mouth colouring 1 3 0.20 apiculatum g 119358 Combretaceae Crabbea hirsuta Xitsayitsayi Mophutin Roots Infusion Eye problems 1 8 0.53 Acanthaceae g 119366 Crotolaria cf. Phuphuma Mophutin